Robert Lewandowski may be one of the most talked about strikers in Europe but he was the elephant in the room for both managers on the eve of this pivotal Group F fixture.

Arsene Wenger’s stock response to questions about dangerous opponents is always to “focus on the way we play” but there was an additional reason for deflecting attention away from the deadly form of Borussia Dortmund’s premier striker — Olivier Giroud was sat next to him.

Giroud was the player designated to speak to the media alongside Wenger here at the Westfalenstadion last night and at the first mention of Lewandowski’s name, the Arsenal manager turned to his fellow Frenchman, patted him on the back five times and simply declared: “Olivier Giroud.”

He is undoubtedly developing his reputation at home and abroad but the inquisitor remained unperturbed, forcing a smile of resignation from Giroud as the retort came: “I know that you have a great forward but I just want to ask you about Robert…”

It was an inevitable question given Lewandowski netted the winner when these sides met at Emirates Stadium two weeks ago and took his tally to nine goals in 11 Bundesliga matches last weekend with a hat-trick in Dortmund’s 6-1 demolition of Stuttgart.

“Usually at home he is quite dangerous but it is down to us to have the ball,” said Wenger, typically offering the argument that his side are capable of nullifying any threat should they play to their maximum.

“We want to control the game and have the ball, that is the best way to keep them quiet.

“If we leave the ball to Dortmund a player like Lewandowski will be dangerous. So we try to control the game and have the ball; that is the best way to keep him quiet.”

Lewandowski has scored 10 goals in seven home games this season, three in as many Champions League games and his pedigree in this competition is underlined by an overall record of netting 14 times in 21 games. Whichever way you dissect his statistics, the Poland international’s threat is clear and once Wenger has prepared his team accordingly, it is understandable that he would opt not to publicly dwell on the danger he poses.

And yet, Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp is reluctant to talk about Lewandowski, too.

During a press conference in which he refused to speak English and appeared to know the questions before they arrived — except for one bizarrely asking him to reveal what single question he would ask the founding fathers of football if it were possible — Klopp appeared visibly tired of answering questions about his wantaway forward.

In fact, one reporter whose agenda is well known, did not begin his question before Klopp uttered “Robert Lewandowski” to murmurs of laughter and a response that, “sorry but if somebody scores one goal in London and three goals against Stuttgart, I have to ask about him”.

Fair enough but Klopp’s desperation to avoid focusing on a player who is in the final year of his contract and has shown no intention thus far of signing a new one was obvious.

Lewandowski was heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich or Manchester United — Arsenal have also scouted him in the past — but Klopp’s ability to extract the best from an individual reluctant to commit his future seems to be in setting him a series of challenges in each game.

“Regretfully, yes, it is going to be a tough game for Robert, especially when you have two central defenders like Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny,” said Klopp, shunning the convention of bullishly promoting an in-form player.

“Actually, he will have to impose his game and therefore we are going to do video analysis and show the players some things [about Arsenal].”

They will find a more resilient outfit than the one who nearly snatched victory at this ground two years ago only to succumb to a marvellous late equaliser as substitute Ivan Perisic earned the home side a 1-1 draw.

The Gunners are top of the Premier League and also Champions League Group F — albeit courtesy of UEFA’s method of separating sides by virtue of their head-to-head record — and are 14 away games unbeaten dating back to their last visit to German soil when defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 in March.

Tonight’s match against last season’s finalists clearly represents a step up from any opponent encountered on that run as the list shows: Swansea (twice), West Brom (three times), Fulham (twice), Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle, Fenerbahce, Sunderland, Marseille and Crystal Palace.

“We actually believe it is an advantage to play at home and if we put all our quality on the pitch, we are very hard to play against,” added Klopp. “We are also very well prepared. Even if we had won the last 70 games at home, it wouldn’t make any difference for tonight.

“It would be just a history, just statistics so therefore I wouldn’t say the 14 games [unbeaten] away are an advantage.”

Wenger is without Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Flamini due to injury but he remains confident Arsenal can achieve the necessary result to keep a 14th consecutive qualification for the knockout stages within reach. To do that, they may well have to keep Lewandowski out of the limelight.

Borussia Dortmund v Arsenal

What must Arsenal do differently to last time?

They played well in defeat two weeks ago but Arsene Wenger rued the loss of balance in the team between defending and attacking when the score was 1-1. “In the end, we got caught on the counter attack because we were all up front,” he said last night. Dortmund will be on the front foot in front of their own support, meaning Arsenal must time their counter-attacks well to ensure they are not exposed defensively.

How big a loss is Mathieu Flamini?

A significant one, particularly in terms of the above. Flamini has brought discipline and balance to Arsenal’s team and it is easy to conclude that he would not have allowed such a gung-ho attitude against a team as deadly as Dortmund. Aaron Ramsey has had a fine season on the ball but tonight he will also be required to dig in alongside Mikel Arteta to provide adequate cover for the back four.

How important is it Arsenal get a result tonight?

A defeat would leave them with an uphill battle to qualify assuming that Napoli beat Marseille at home this evening. Dortmund have never lost to English opponents at home in 10 meetings and are looking for their eighth successive Champions League victory on their own ground. A victory for Arsenal would be a huge statement of their progress and ensure that a home win against Marseille on matchday five would all but seal their place in the last 16. A draw leaves everything to play for.